Youth Making Choices: Gambling Prevention Program

Ontario Teens (Ages 15–17)• The most common gambling activity among Ontario teens is betting on a dare or challenge.• Poker is the second most common gambling activity.• Teens spend the most time and money on Internet gambling compared to other gamblingactivities.• Most teens gamble for entertainment/fun and for monetary reasons, such as needing moneyor wanting to win back lost money.• Most teens get money to gamble from a job and from their parents (i.e., allowance).• 45% of teens played poker in the past year.• 18% of teens worry about their friends’ poker playing and 15% feel that poker is a problemat their school.• Males prefer gambling activities related to skill, such as Pro-line/Sport Select.• Females prefer gambling activities involving luck, such as raffle tickets.• 3.9% of Ontario teens are affected by problem gambling.• The most common gambling activities among teens affected by problem gambling are:- playing arcade/video games for money- betting on a dare or challenge that they or someone else could do something- betting on an outcome of a game that they were playing, excluding poker. 1Ontario Students (Grades 7–12)• The most common gambling activities among students are cards. 2• Males are significantly more likely than females to gamble on most games, like card games,dice, sports pools and sports lottery tickets. 2• 3% of students gamble over the Internet and play Internet poker. 2• Many gambling activities gradually increase with grade and peak in grade 12. 2• There was a significant increase in playing cards for money between 2001 and 2007. 2• 2.3% of students may have a gambling problem (about 24,000 students). 2• Males are more likely than females to be at risk for problem gambling. 2• 19% of students would be embarrassed or ashamed if their friends discovered thatsomeone in their family was affected by problem gambling. 3• Females are more likely than males to perceive gambling addiction as shameful. 3References1. White, M.A., Mun, P., Kauffman, N., Whelan, C. & Regan, M. (2007, January). Teen gambling in Ontario: Behavioursand perceptions among 15 to 17 year-olds. Toronto: Responsible Gambling Council.2. Adlaf, E.M., Paglia-Boak, A., Beitchman, J.H. & Wolfe, D. (2007). The mental health and well-being of Ontariostudents 1991-2007: Detailed OSDUHS findings, CAMH Research Document Series, No. 22. Toronto: Centre forAddiction and Mental Health.3. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. (2008). Students’ perceptions of shame associated with addiction, gambling,and mental illness. CAMH Population Studies eBulletin, July/August 2008, Vol. 9, No. 4. Toronto: Author.Updated August 2009